Gender Roles Highlighted In Migration Research

The Migration out of Poverty Program Consortium, West African Hub, has held a seminar to highlight the gender role in migration.

The seminar, attended by representatives from academia, government agencies, civil society and the media focused on migration and its policy implications.

The research findings, presented by Dr. Akosua Darkwa and Dr. Joesph Teye on the topics, ‘Of Local Places and Local People and Gender Dynamics of Remitting and Remittance use in Northern Ghana,’ indicated that some changes do happen in households when men and women move to the cities to seek greener pastures.

The research revealed that both men and women send money home but women send money in bits but regularly while the men did not send regularly but their remittances were more than that of the women. Remittances from the women were for food and housekeeping while remittances from men were for investment and productive work. Remittances for upkeep were sent to women in the household, because they believe they can manage them better while remittances for projects went to the male heads, it revealed.

Professor Mariama Awumbila, Director of the Consortium, commenting on the research findings, said although the remittances from women may be meager as indicated in the research findings, they were very significant in the upkeep of the homes.

She noted that the fact that migration and gender play a major role in poverty reduction but differs depending on the factors and context.

When people migrate, it helps them move out of poverty in some circumstances, but in others it does not, however, gender comes out as a clear issue looking at how it impacts on the individual, Prof. Awumbila explained.

She said issues that promote gender equality must be brought to the fore so that the country can be fully developed, adding that “if we are to develop we have to go together.”

The seminar was to mark the International Women’s Day, which was themed, ‘Be Bold for Change.’